Queen Elizabeth Needed Support During Prince Philip's Funeral, Body Language Expert Says

Queen Elizabeth II showed obvious signs that she needed some support during her husband Prince Philip’s funeral Saturday, a body language expert says.

Judi James analyzed footage of Prince Philip's funeral service and studied the Queen's gestures and reactions. The body language expert noted that there was a moment when the 94-year-old royal appeared to seek "reassurance" from her family before entering St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle where the service was held.

"The Queen provided the most memorable moments, in her isolation in the chapel where she sat with her head dipped so low that her face was completely covered from view by her hat," James told Daily Mail.

"There was one moment when she paused and turned around before entering the chapel and it looked terribly poignant, almost as though she couldn't face going in alone. She turned for what looked like reassurance that her party was behind her," she continued.

The Queen arrived at the service in her State Bentley with her lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, 81, widow of former BBC chairman Marmaduke Hussey, People reported. Lady Susan was present as a working household member and not as one of the only 30 guests allowed to attend the funeral due to the U.K.'s strict COVID-19 restrictions, the outlet noted.

To comply with pandemic safety guidelines, Queen Elizabeth and the other attendees wore face masks and sat 6 feet apart during the funeral service. The Queen sat alone inside St. George's Chapel, while other royals who were in family bubbles sat together.

With her need for support, the body language expert said the Queen was also the "most animated royal" during the service.

"She could be seen dabbing one eye as she sat in the car, suggesting tears, but she was also chatting to her lady-in-waiting, suggesting she was gathering some comfort from the company," James continued. "She talked in quite an animated way to her lady-in-waiting and to the bishop at the entrance to the chapel."

James also examined Prince William and Prince Harry's body language and noticed that their reunion, which saw them chatting and leaving the chapel together on Saturday following the service, "looked like a genuine moment of unity rather than something contrived for the cameras."

However, in her observation, Prince Harry was not very comfortable and displayed "subtle bravado" during the procession into the chapel. In fact, for her, the grief-stricken Queen appeared relatively more relaxed than the Duke of Sussex.

"Pulling at his waistcoat, he also performed a shoulder-roll in the actual chapel, a gesture that can imply someone is bracing themselves and trying to boost their own confidence," she said of Prince Harry's body language.